Regeneration leaders call on councils to "get their heads around risk"

In the third event of EG’s regeneration series, experts came together in Birmingham to discuss themes around whether regeneration is at the top of the agenda for the new government. At the round table, held on 1 June at the office of Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co at Two Snowhill – the building itself part of significant regeneration activity – the specialists welcomed a continued focus on urban renewal. They had mixed feelings about metropolitan mayors and urged local authorities to take a long-term view on schemes. But they lauded the decision announced on the same day by government officials, also in the city, to press ahead with a Midlands combined authority. This round table event was held on the back of the Estates Gazette Peter Wilson Lecture earlier this year in which Lord Michael Heseltine described leadership, co-operation and competition as the foundation principles of revitalising cities. Shortly afterwards, at London’s Battersea Power Station, leading voices echoed his call for long-term thinking from public and private investors. Our experts in  Birmingham included Barry Allen, head of Birmingham office and director of development at Savills; Richard Beckingsale, director of regeneration at Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co; Jackie Sadek, chief executive, UK Regeneration/adviser to cities minister Greg Clark; Rob Groves, senior project director at Argent; Waheed Nazir, director of planning & regeneration at Birmingham city council; Michael Auger, regional director of Muse  Developments; and Eamonn Boylan, chief executive Stockport metropolitan borough council.  EG editor Damian Wild chaired the discussion. The regeneration series has been held in partnership with Savills and Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co.